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Florida's GOP-dominated House approved a proposed constitutional amendment Wednesday that could give the winner of November's gubernatorial election the power to reshape the state Supreme Court.

Dara Kam, The News Service of Florida

Florida's GOP-dominated House approved a proposed constitutional amendment Wednesday that could give the winner of November's gubernatorial election the power to reshape the state Supreme Court.

House Republicans sent the measure to the November ballot in a 74-45, party-line vote, after Democrats objected to both the process and the politics behind a proposal that would allow an outgoing governor to replace appellate or Supreme Court justices whose terms expire on the governor's last day in office.

The proposal will be the only constitutional question placed on the November ballot by the Legislature. Voters will also face ballot initiatives dealing with legalization of medical marijuana and the state's land-buying program. All constitutional changes require 60 percent approval from voters to pass.

Democrats argued that the proposal, approved by the Senate in a partisan vote earlier this month, is intended to give incumbent Gov. Rick Scott, who is seeking re-election, the ability to stack the Florida Supreme Court.

The proposal would let the winner of the November election --- Scott, or potentially, Democratic candidate Charlie Crist --- appoint replacements for three Supreme Court justices who have to retire on the same day the governor's term ends in 2019. Justices have to retire at age 70 but can serve the remainder of their six-year terms.

Justices R. Fred Lewis, Barbara Pariente and Peggy Quince, who make up part of the court's left-leaning wing, will have to quit the bench when their six-year terms expire on Jan. 8, 2019. That is the same day the winner of the 2018 governor's race will be inaugurated.

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